Concealed hinge



Jan. 25, 1949. o. c. GEssLER CONCEALED HINGE Filed March 15, 1944 y mnentor (Ittornegs Patented Jan. 25, i949 e d. ,a l.

UNITED STATES PA"fl-5115,11" OFFICE 2,460,171fgr n CONCEALED Otto C.r Gessler, Detroit. Mich. Application March 13, 1944K, `Stirl'iall, N0. 526,163

The present invention relates to concealed hingel structures, and more particularly, to hinges for motor vehicle doors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a concealed hinge structure of the abovementioned type which may be securely and rigidly attached to lone of the upright framev members of the vehicle body in such a manner as to prevent the inertia of .the'door when reaching its limiting point from bending or otherwise distorting the hinge structure and body structure of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide av hinge structure of the above-mentioned type comprising a comparatively small number of parts to become disorganized and to `provide a hinge which maybe quickly and easily constructed from blank stampings which likewise may be quickly and easily produced.

Another object of the invention is to providea concealed hinge structure of the above-mentionedl charact-er in which the box portion of the con--l cealed hinge may be quickly and readily attached to the frame structure of the vehicle sov as to form` an integral part of the frame structure and thereby prevent the weight of the doorV from causing the hinge to distort and' sag the door and genfl erally provide a concealed hinge structure whichv is rigid-and stable. Y Another object of the invention is to provide a concealed hinge structure of the above-mentioned v mounted to swing between a pair of parallel.

members which frictionally engage the Vhinge strap to retard the same and perform the function of a snubber and thereby prevent the doorv from being swung at a fast rate of speed during the opening movement thereof and causing damage to the frame of the vehicle and hinge structure.

Another object of the invention is to providea.

concealed hinge structure for motor vehicle doors in which the parallel side members of the hinge' box are connected at one end by a `reeniorcing strap so arranged with its ends overlapping the zclaimsf (ci. itiss). y f

provide additional support for the hinge pintle and` to facilitate attachment of the box-like hinge.: member to the vertical frame member or pillarof :a-vehiele and by welding said strap or otherwise aflxing the same to one of the flanges of said frame member or pillar.

Another Kobject of the invention is to provide a concealed hinge structure of the above-mentioned typev in; which the base portion of the box-like hinge member is slotted adjacent one end to provide ak tab projection adapted to be return bent over one of the edges ofthe vertical frame memp following description of the accompanying draw-v ing, 'whereinz .Figure 1- is` a horizontal cross sectional view through .a motor vehicle body structure illustrating an embodiment of the invention as ap-f plied thereto and showing the motor vehicle door swun'g'to an open position in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofv- Figure l and looking in the directionofthe arrows to illustrate' the manner in whichanchoring tabs on the box-like hinge member areadapted for being fastened to the angular flangesKV of the vehicle frame member or pillar;

*Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of"l the l'frame member showing the manner in which the box-like hinge member is affixed thereto; p

zFigure 4 is a perspective View of a box-like hinge member showing the reenforcing strap at 'ner rwlfricil the blank `is shaped and stamped to produce the hinge box as shown in Figure 6;

.Figure 8 is a perspective view of a stillfurther parallel wall members of the hinge box as to modified form lof the invention in which anan-v throughout, the attention is directed to the preil .l

ierred embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l to inclusive and as indicatedfln-*Figs ures 1 and 2 the invention is applied toavehiclej door construction in such a manner as to be concealed when the door is in its closed" position. More specifically, the vehicle body and doorstruc ture comprises a vertical pillar post or channeled frame member I9 having flanges II and I2 arranged in parallel relation one to the other.` Acetually, the frame member or pillar post I0 has its"l lower end connectedy to the chassis frame-ias by: means of welding or the like and said pillar post` is slightly curved to conform to the body contour with the upper end connected` to a framestruc'- tureV of` thetop of the vehicle. The variousbody panels` indicated as at I3 are connected' to the pillar post I0 and as shown in Figure l, the body panel I3l is provided` with an offset portion |41 so.l

thatits ilanged edge may be Welded to the 'ange I2 of said'pillar post. The door structure I5nis. typical of a vehicle door and comprises an inner panel I5 stamped to provide side wallsl I1r having-r marginal flangesV I8. An outer'panell I9! iszaPf plied: tothe door panel IBand has itsredgesrreturnz. bentzas at2il'over the marginal'fiangesrl itherofi as indicated in Figure 1,

Theinvention comprises a box-like hingeemember generally designated. by. the referencer chars--V acter: 2 I1 andsaid box-like hingezmemberisformed, from a stamping 22 as indicated in Figurez5lhave ingta central portion providing a base 23 adapted tcnbe folded` along the transverselines 24 so'that, the end members or portions of the blankl 22as:at., 25- may bebent in parallel relation to form side. Wall members 2t-` The blank 22 is stampedywith. tabs 21 and 28 and said tabs are adapted. to-ex tendthrough slots 29 and 3U'formed inthe flange,

II of thepillar post iIl'wherebyy the free` ends of? saidA tabs may be bent over to interlockinglysecureethe hinge box 2I- to the pillar, post I0. In:

forming-the blank 22, a pair of parallel slotsr3l: are stamped in the centralmost area23fin opposed relation to the tab extension 21 and thereby form,A aztab 32 struck downwardly fromv the base 23:50,

as to space said base 23 from the flange I2 oitl'ie.A pillar post. The free end of the tab 32 is adapted to be return bent-as at 33A over the.vertica1 edge..4

of the post I0 to further interlock, the-hinge box.; 2| inpositiom The end portions 25 of the stamping;2,2".'are=v punched as at 34 to provide a pair of` opposedlf on each end of the hinge pintle 35 to securely-hol`cl"` the same in place. A reenforcingstrap' 42 has its" ends angularly bent as at' IIB'A to'overlapthef-siiiel rl` wallportions 260i thehinge box 2I and saidfoverlapping' end portions are provided with'- aperti'n'es-` or openings 44 adapted to align with the openings 34 in said wall members 2B so that the hinge pintle may extend therethrough and thereby provide a relatively large bearing surface for the ends of the hinge pintle and simultaneously strengthen and reenforce the box-like hinge member 2|. The strap portion 42 may be welded to the flange I I of the vertical frame or pillar post I0 so as. to additionally strengthen the hinge structure andi form a rigidl connection between the hinge and said pillar post. The connecting strap 42 is adapted to hold the side walls 26 in `f'rictional engagement With the hinge strap 31 so astatoretard the swinging movement of the door L6 during opening and closing thereof, and if desired',` the side walls 26 may be inclined slightly tidwarctlcorre, another.' to increase the amount of frictiornon the arcuately curved portion 38 of thehingeA strap 31 so that the required amount of retardation may be applied to the swinging movement of thedoor;

Iii-'thel modied' form of the invention, shown in Figures 6 and '7, the box-likei hinge member is'fformed from a stamping- 45 similar to the stamping shown in Figure 5 and said stamping isprovided' with a centralmost portion 46 forming the base of the box-like hinge structure as shown: in Figurel; rFheside Walls 41 of the hinge structureare formed by bending the blank 45 upcn'ithe lines 43- similar to the formV of the inventionushownin Figures l toV 5. As in the case of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5'; th'ezsidel walls, 4:1.oi the box-like hinge structure-.mayfbelcutzawayras at 49Aand the side walls are'punched withbpenings 50 which areadapted to allgrr. as shownxin) Figure Giandprovide openings; for: avpintle, pin; similar to the pintle pin 35 inaFiguresl:toisinclnsivei The oppositeend of'the centralmost portion 46 istslotted aseat151fto-provide acentral anchoring; tabl' portiont52 l which'. adapted to be struck 'llhefopposite'endo` the centralmost portion 46 is:5 connectedwto vanK extenson. 53 lhaving wing-like tabs154- en opposite' sides:thereof and said Winglikewt-a-bs-fare-adaptedtofbe: folded on the lines to form angular end pieces adapted to overlap thaside-.wallsid'l `cf=.thefbox-like hinge structure shownin-.F-igure. Theitabfextension 53 is folded onvthmlinefto providea backingl portion interconnectingithe sidewalls-41 of the box-like hinge structurefandsaid backing portion is slotted as at.51 -to provide a'punched out tabiil adapted to be,receivedsin:arslottedopening in the'iiange II of the pillar post-Ill.. Openings are formed in thawing-like rtabs* E4 so as. to register with theopenings 5min :the sidewalls 41-of the boxlikeshinge when said wing-like portions-are arrangedlin overlappingrelation therewith, It will thusbe seen thatthe backingportion 53strengthens, andreenforces the. box-likefhinge structure byproviding. anincreased bearing surface for the hingeV pintle andiy simultaneously provides a struclvcut-'ftab 58`.i`n the. form of a lug adapted tdbejreceivedandinterlockedfwith. the flange I I ofthe pillar post' IDin a manner similar to the anchoring lugs 21 .and 28 shown inFigures 1 to 5ir`1'c1usive. l

In* the still furti'rermodifiedl form` of the in- Venti'onfshownlin Figures 8 andv 9, the reference charactersil will generally be employed to representtli'eibbxdilce-hinge member having a base purtionv G2 arid-"parallel spaced side walls 63' formed integral therewith. Adjacent one end of the spaced walls 63 is formed a pair of aligned openings 64 for receiving a hinge pintle extending through the eye of a hinge strap.

Interconnecting the spaced parallel side walls 63 at one end thereof is a strap 65 which is formed of metal and is similar to the strap 42 and backing member 53 in the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. The strap is provided with angular end portions 66 which are adapted to overlie and overlap the spaced side walls 63 so that openings 61 in the ends thereof will register with the openings 64 and receive the ends of the hinge pintle, in substantially the same manner as the overlapping ends 43 and 54 of the strap 42 and backing member 53. The intermediate portion of the strap 65 is cut out as at 68 to provide an anchoring lug 69 adapted to enter the slot in the flange il of said pillar post I0 so as to securely anchor the box-like hinge member 6| in place. the remaining portion of the strap 65 may be welded in place to the inner surface of the flange H of said pillar post.

In each of the forms of the invention it may be desired to weld the strap 42, backing member 53 or strap 65 to the inner surface of the flange i l' in lieu of the anchoring lugs, or if desired, the anchoring lugs may have their free ends welded in placeto integrate the structure and form a more rigid and solid construction.

It is to bev understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes may be made inthe shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hinge structure for supporting a vehicle door on a vertical channel frame member of said vehicle, comprising a box-like member adapted to be attached to the channel frame member, said box-like member having a base wall and If desired,

side walls connected thereto, a hinge strap secured to the vehicle door and projecting between said side walls, and a hinge pintle extending through an eye in said hinge strap and passing through aligned openings in said side walls, one end of said side walls and the opposite end of said base wall remote therefrom being provided with lugs for reception in apertures formed in the channel frame member whereby said channel member is gripped between the lugs of said base Wall to secure said box-like member thereto.

2. A hinge structure for supporting a vehicle door on a vertical channel frame member of said vehicle, comprising a box-like member adapted to be attached to the channel frame member, said box-like member having a base wall and side walls connected thereto, a hinge strap secured to the vehicle door and projecting between said side walls, and a hinge pintle extending through an eye in said hinge strap and passing through aligned openings in said side walls, said side walls and the opposite ends of said base wall being provided with tab extensions Y forming anchoring lugs for reception and inter locking engagement in apertures located in said channel frame member whereby said channel member is gripped between the lugs of said base wall to secure said box-like member thereto.

OTTO C. GESSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,317,196 Konigslow e Sept. 30, 1919 1,589,620 Bourgon .L- June 22, 1926 1,650,018 Kessler Nov. 22, 1927 2,335,201 Ulrich Nov. 23, 1943 2,342,531 Dean Feb. 22, 1944 2,364,437 Gessler Dec. 5, 1944 

